The Definitive Guide to Nootropics

Nootropics can help increase your memory, boost learning ability, improve your mood and assist overall brain function. If you’re new to nootropics, or wonder about the difference between a nootropic and a smart drug, then this page is for you.

Here you’ll find the definition of a nootropic, how to pronounce the word “nootropic”, the origin of the word nootropic, other names or synonyms you’ll come across when referring to nootropics, a brief explanation of nootropic ‘stacks’, if they really work, how they work and what nootropics can do for you.

You’ll also find information on nootropic safety. And if they have any side effects. Use this guide as a primer to clear any confusion, and get started safely with nootropics.

In just a few minutes you’ll have a better understanding of each topic. And links through to pages in more detail when an in-depth explanation is needed.

You can even click each of the titles in the Table of Contents and go directly to that section if you’re pressed for time.

What are Nootropics?

Nootropics are a class of substances that improve brain function. Also referred to as neuro-enhancers, cognitive boosters, or memory enhancers. Nootropics can be natural or synthetic.

Experienced bio-hackers often make a distinction between nootropics and smart drugs. For our discussion and to help you understand what they are and how they’re used, we’ll cover the latest in nootropics research.

Nootropics are used to improve focus, motivation, memory, mood, and cognition. Each of these depend on different processes in your brain. And different substances can be used to affect each of these functions.

This idea of altering brain function is not new. Our ancestors were using herbs and alcohol to alter brain function for the last few thousand years.

Origin of the word ‘Nootropic’

The term “nootropic” is relatively new. Romanian psychologist and chemist Dr. Corneliu Giurgea synthesized Piracetam in 1963. And coined the term “nootropic” in 1972.[i] It is derived from the Greek nous (“mind”) and trepein (to bend).

Definition of Nootropic

Dr. Giurgea gave us a list of five criteria that a substance must have to be considered a ‘true’ nootropic.

A true nootropic:

Enhances memory and the ability to learn

Assists brain function under disruptive conditions such as lack of oxygen and electroconvulsive shock

Protects the brain from chemical and physical toxins like anticholinergic drugs and barbiturates

Increases natural cognitive processes

Must be non-toxic to humans, nor stimulate or depress the brain

Most of the time, when you hear the term ‘nootropic’ used, people loosely mean “cognitive enhancer”. A substance or compound that improves memory, increases cognitive processing speed, boosts alertness, concentration and focus, or a combination of these qualities.

At Nootropics Expert, we do our best to stick to the original definition of nootropic. And when a substance or compound strays from this strict definition, we’ll tell you the reasons why. And things to avoid when choosing a nootropic supplement.

How to Pronounce the word “Nootropic”

The formal or ‘correct’ way to pronounce the word “nootropic” according to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a few in the nootropic community is:

nō-ə-ˈtrō-pik

Which sounds a little like ‘Noah’ as in the biblical Noah. And ‘tropic’ with the ‘tro’ rhyming with ‘go’.

However, most in the nootropic community pronounce the word ‘new-tropic’. With ‘tropic’ rhyming with ‘living in the tropics’ (which I did for many years).

There is no absolute ‘correct’ way to pronounce nootropic in our opinion. And anyone who takes issue with the pronunciation of the word likely needs an extra dose of Phenibut. Or 30-minutes of meditation. Just to calm down and get on with building their stack.

Nootropic Synonyms

With the rapidly growing popularity of nootropics and other cognitive enhancers, you will come across many terms generally referring to the same thing. And it can get confusing especially for someone new to nootropics.

Natural vs. Synthetic Nootropics

You can boost brain power in a variety of ways. Your end goal will often dictate if you should use a natural or synthetic nootropic. Let’s illustrate this with some examples.

First we’ll look at a synthetic nootropic, and then we’ll look at a natural nootropic. These are only two of dozens of nootropics in each category.

Dr. Giurgea’s piracetam is a cyclic derivative of GABA. GABA is naturally produced by your body. (But because it is not “natural”, piracetam cannot be sold in the USA as a “dietary supplement”. And since piracetam is not approved by the FDA for medical use, it also cannot be sold as a drug.)

Piracetam has been shown to support memory[ii], learning capacity, reduce mental fatigue, and improve concentration. It is sold as the prescription drug “Nootropil” in many European countries.

Acetylcholine is a chemical messenger that allows neurons to communicate with each other. It is vital for memory, focus, concentration and mental alertness. But piracetam is not the only way to boost acetylcholine function in the brain.

So there is no best source for nootropics. Natural and synthetics work. Some work better than others. And everybody’s body really is different. It often depends what you’re trying to achieve.

Do Nootropics Really Work?

There is no question nootropics work. But opinions vary across the board how well they work. Decades of clinical studies and nootropic user comments and reviews show improvement in many areas. It depends on the person and the specific nootropic.

Personally, I was able to get off of ADHD meds (Adderall) for a year. And manage my condition just as well with Nootropics.

In the Nootropic community the big proviso is always “your mileage may vary”. Dosage can influence the desired (and undesired) effects of many nootropics. With some of the newer nootropics (smart drugs in particular) the jury is still out on how well, or even if they work.

This includes stacks put out by companies who either don’t disclose individual dosage of each ingredient. Or companies who have poor quality control over, and amount of the ingredients used in a capsule.

The underlying lesson is research and experimentation. Read what others say and review clinical trials. But always remember more is definitely not better.

What is the Best Nootropic?

It depends on what you mean by “best”. And maybe not the answer you’re looking for. But we have a lot of variables in play here. And especially for someone new to nootropics, this is what you need to consider…

If you are a university student, an entrepreneur, a business executive, a stay-at-home mom or dad or a senior – what are you trying to improve?

By using nootropics, you can benefit from improved memory, focus, learning, mood or motivation. Some even have anti-aging benefits. You have several options for each benefit you’re trying to boost or correct.

But to be perfectly honest with you, from our personal experience, one nootropic to boost memory may work better for you and not as well for me.

As a general rule, we’re all the same. And generally one nootropic will work better for focus for most people. But we have found each nootropic can have a different effect at different doses on different people.

Each one of us has variations in cognitive “wiring”. Our chemical makeup is different. We’re influenced by the foods we eat, where we live, the air we breathe and the genes we inherited from our parents.

Science hasn’t yet developed the “magic pill” to solve all cognitive issues. It’s why we experiment, read reviews, and listen to other neurohackers.

It’s why we created and continue to develop Nootropics Expert. To help you in your journey in creating the perfect nootropic stack for you at this time in your life.

Best Nootropic Stack for Beginners

If you are new to nootropics, and don’t know where to start, here’s a few things to keep in mind.

Each nootropic supplement has a unique mechanism of action in your brain. As soon as you add just one more nootropic, it may have some impact on how the first nootropic works in your brain.

Sometimes this combination of two or more nootropics is intentional. For example, Piracetam boosts the sensitivity of acetylcholinereceptors in your brain. Which causes your brain to demand more acetylcholine to satisfy this demand.

Experienced neurohackers have learned that ‘stacking’ Piracetam with a choline supplement like Alpha GPC or CDP-Choline boosts the effectiveness of Piracetam. With even more focus, learning and memory improvements.

But sometimes the interaction between two or more nootropics taken together is unintentional. And could cause adverse side effects like depression, irritability or insomnia.

Huperzine-A is a classic example because it acts as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor which means it boosts levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in your brain.

So if you add Huperzine-A to your stack, you may want to reduce your dose of a choline supplement like Alpha GPC or CDP-Choline. Or you could experience the side effects of too much choline.

You’ll also want to keep in mind that some nootropics have a cumulative effect in your brain. They ‘build-up’ over time. Especially if you take them everyday. Take Huperzine-A for example which has a half-life of 10 – 12 hours. If you took Hup-A every day, your body wouldn’t have the chance to flush the old Huperzine-A out of our system before you took your next dose.

Some nootropics are water-soluble while some are fat-soluble. What does this mean?

To help you if you’re just getting started in nootropics and building your first stack, check out this article on:

You’ll find how each affects your brain, what can go wrong, and examples of nootropics that can address each issue.

You can also get detailed explanations of dozens of nootropics here on Nootropics Expert. Each article explains what the nootropic is and where it came from, mechanisms of action on how it works in your brain, why you may want to add it to your nootropic stack, dosage notes, forms each nootropic comes in, and references to dozens of clinical studies.

Visit the “List of Nootropics” page and scroll through the Table of Contents. Each nootropic summary on that page links to a detailed article on that nootropic and how it works.

What Can Nootropics Do for Me?

Referring to a section near the beginning of this article, the right nootropics can help you:

Interpret and retain complex information

Learning is faster and more efficient

Signal to noise ratio gets better

Emotions are affected generally in a positive way

Anxiety levels drop

Sociability can be affected either way

Nootropics may also help to repair years of damage to your brain, and possibly find a healthier alternative to ADHD meds.

Need more energy to power through your day? Mitochondria are your body’s master energy system. Allowing you to hear, feel and see. Mitochondria beat your heart, stimulate your sex drive and allow you to think.

Your brain has a higher concentration of these little cellular powerplants than most other cells in your body. You have anywhere from two to several thousand mitochondria in each brain cell. They even have their own DNA.

If you are dealing with anxiety or depression and conventional prescription anti-anxiety meds, or antidepressants just aren’t helping…

Check this… are you also battling with abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea? Your brain fog, anxiety or depression could be a gut problem. Recent research has established a strong gut-brain connection.

And when you address gastrointestinal issues, you’ll often find that depression, anxiety and brain fog are gone too. Learn how here…

Nootropics vs. Smart Drugs — What’s the Difference?

Smart Drugs are not the same as nootropics even though some may have similar benefits.

A smart drug is typically a prescription pharmaceutical used to treat the symptoms of ADHD or narcolepsy. They are central nervous system stimulant drugs. And the most commonly prescribed are Adderall (dextroamphetamine) or Ritalin (methylphenidate).

These stimulants help with focus and energy in someone who is truly clinically ADHD. They produce spikes in dopamine and norepinephrine.

Adderall, Ritalin and other stimulants are very powerful drugs. And can include side effects such as decreased appetite, irritability, mood swings, anxiety, sleep problems, and cardiac issues. Dependency and addiction is a growing problem with their use.

Two other smart drugs of note are Modafinil and Adrafinil. These are wake-promoting agents that have a different chemical make-up from stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall. But exhibit similar side effects in many people.[xii]

Nootropics are described as having the characteristics of enhancing learning and memory. It should protect the brain while increasing natural cognitive processes. And should not be toxic, nor stimulate or depress the brain.

You could think of a nootropic as food for the brain, while a smart drug is exactly that — a drug for the brain.

Let’s be clear.

Smart drugs can kill you. And nootropics can heal your brain.

For more on the “dark side” of smart drugs including more detail on methylphenidate (Ritalin), Adderall, modafinil, and prescription ampakines, see my post on:

Nootropic Safety & Side Effects

One of the qualifications to be called a nootropic is they must be extremely safe, and non-toxic to humans. This from the original definition by Dr. Giurgea who invented piracetam.

For this reason, “smart drugs” like Ritalin and Adderall do not qualify as a nootropic.

Most nootropics have few, if any, drug interactions. And should not complicate existing health conditions.

But a strong word of caution here… carefully read the dosage recommendations and side effects for each nootropic you’re considering adding to your stack. Every article of each nootropic listed here on Nootropics Expert goes into detail on what to look out for. Including possible drug interactions.

So care must be taken with anything that alters dopamine or serotonin in your brain. Particularly if you are on any kind of SSRI or other anti-depressant medication.

Nootropics are generally made from plants, or made up of ingredients from plants. Or are purified components or extracts of plants.

The racetam-family of nootropics are derivatives of chemicals naturally produced by your body. For example, piracetam is a cyclic derivative of GABA which is naturally produced throughout your body, including your brain.

Nootropics are generally safe if you use them as intended. You don’t want to go overboard with Vitamin D, melatonin or zinc because it could cause problems. Likewise, follow directions on the label and get advice from experienced nootropic users.

Many clinical studies have been done on nootropics over the last 40 – 50 years establishing their safety. And no one who has used a nootropic at recommended doses has ever OD’d to our knowledge.

Are Nootropics Legal?

In the USA, nootropics are generally classified as “dietary supplements” or “research compounds”. And can be purchased and used legally for personal consumption.

Smart drugs like Ritalin, Adderall, and Modafinil are prescription “drugs” and require a prescription from a licensed medical professional.

Some nootropics, particularly synthetics are classified as a prescription drug in some countries. For example, Citicoline, which is a supplement in the USA, qualifies as a prescription drug in much of Europe.

Piracetam and other racetam-class nootropics are only available by prescription in Russia, the United Kingdom and Australia. SAM-e is a prescription drug throughout Europe. And Vinpocetine, derived from the periwinkle plant is prescribed as a dementia drug in Japan and parts of Europe.

Dietary supplements are available in the USA without a prescription. And in many other countries. However, please check the status of any particular nootropic and their classification in your country.

That page is updated as new information comes in from readers and neurohackers like you. So if you have information about your country that’s not yet listed, please leave a comment at the bottom of the Are Nootropics Legal in My Country page. That page is checked by hundreds of visitors every day. Your input is greatly appreciated.

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About David Tomen

David has been researching nootropics and brain optimization for over 10 years. When he's not writing about nootropics, he's travelling the world (45 countries so far), sailing, diving, studying neuroscience or sitting under an umbrella on Miami Beach. More...

Hey David and Oliver, i’m from Argentina. We consume yerba mate almost every day. And its not something you get a particulary effect from. Its more like an acquired taste. Its something you take in the morning or in the evening. And we do not consider “MATE” as a tea, is more like an herb. for us is “yerba”.

Diarrhea as a side effect with choline supplements are rare. It could be because you already have enough choline in your body. And you don’t need supplemental choline to make acetylcholine.

My suggestion is to try CDP-Choline (Citicoline) and look for a supplement that uses Cognizin. Which is a patented form of Citicoline. Also try lowering your dose. If neither of those suggestions work you may not need a choline supplement.

Sir, I am finding great satisfaction in consuming the invaluable wealth of information provided on this site as well as your book. I have been interested in a pharmaceutical drug that has brought a great deal of interest in the public. There have been many ethical debates about about it’s use. For example medical students using it might have a better overall test scores or better comprehension of material because of the drugs ability to make the student more attentive and focused. Is it unfair to students that compete against students taking this drug? Hence would you want a Dr. that used the drug during med school vs one that did not; in that the one that took the drug might be more educated because of it’s effects. There has been a movie “Limitless” and also a TV series about this drug; all be it they are over fictionalized. The drug aim talking about is (Modafinil) or (Provigil) 100mg. I was prescribed it because of sleep apnea. This drug has been nothing short of amassing for me. I’m alert and awake but not jittery like from caffeine. I am super focused, I get more things done. If there is a topic of interest for me, I tend to pursue that topic or subject much, much farther than I would have with out the drug. Could you give your professional observation of the uses and capabilities of this drug as well as your ethical view of the uses of this drug. Avid fan and reader.

Shannon, I’ll not be doing a review of Modafinil any time soon because it is a prescription drug. And I only review nootropic supplements that are available as an over-the-counter supplement. That anyone can buy and try.

As for ethics, I don’t see any problem with “upping your game” by using any substance. We have all kinds of examples of what people do to get the edge over others in every discipline. But this will need to wait for another time because it’s such a broad and deep subject to discuss here.

Great site! Over a year ago, my daughter developed a tic disorder after slightly increasing a therapeutic dose of Adderall. We took her off the Adderall, and the tic stayed. I started her on the Uridine stack (with ALCAR) the other week, and by day two, we had a 6-hour reprieve from her tic for the first time since the condition started! We haven’t been able to replicate that since. I have since switched her from ALCAR to Alpha-GPC. Additionally, she takes methylated B vitamins (part of a complex), Vitamin D, NAC (every other day), Lion’s Mane, Turmeric, and zinc citrate. She is on an AIP diet and drinks kombucha at breakfast and dinner. I give her topical magnesium at night. She is getting tired of swallowing so many supplements. I guess my first question is, how long should we give the Uridine stack a chance? We also tried CBD oil once, and it had the opposite effect of what I was hoping…it made her tics worse (dopamine flooded the brain and didn’t know where to go?) She also worsens when she exercises (dopamine flooding the brain). That’s what led me to the Uridine stack. We are working with a neurologist and hope to find more answers after the New Year (when our deductible re-starts).

Would appreciate any help you could offer…tics are about the hardest of the neurological disorders to treat.

Tanya, tic disorders are a tough one because researchers are still trying to pin-down exactly what causes them. So far, as you pointed out, the dopamine system in the brain is implicated. But not so much levels of dopamine as the way dopamine receptors work. Or don’t work. I realize that your eyes will glaze over before you get part way through this study, but it’s packed with great information about this disorder: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3894588/.

I also recommend closely reading the review for each of the supplements she’s using here on Nootropics Expert. I’ve found that dosage recommendations vary all over the place. The information on this site is based on clinical trials and user experience. Which is often different that what you’ll find on the supplement bottle.

It’s difficult to predict when she’ll feel the benefits of Uridine. Please make sure it’s the correct form. Stacking it with Alpha GPC was a good idea.

I’m certainly not a doctor and don’t even play one on TV. So please use these suggestions as pointers towards figuring out what works. And certainly work with a good neurologist. A bonus would be a doctor who understood the benefits of dietary supplements in her overall wellness plan.

Thanks, Dave! What would be the correct form of uridine? This is the one we’ve been using: “Cardiovascular Research Uridine 25 mg” It’s a small capsule, so it’s relatively easy for her to swallow. Should we be using a sublingual instead?

As for the magnesium, we were using glycinate, but she would have to take 4 horse pills per night to get the 400 mg. I’ll look into the Magtein.

The same goes for magnesium. I use Chelated Magnesium 400 mg with great success. But it’s 4 large tablets. Magnesium L-Threonate is arguably a better choice. But recommended dosage is 1 gram per day.

The keys to success with using nootropic supplements is dosage, correct form of supplement (for brain benefit), and experimenting until you find what works best. Missing any of those 3-key elements is an act in frustration in my experience.

Thank you Tanya. The best thing you can do is help spread the word to your friends and family. And your connections on social media. The more people in our society that know there are alternatives to pharmaceuticals and feeling crappy… we’ll simply have a nicer place to live. And a better quality of life.

I’m new to the nootropics world and have googled so much info recently that it is rather overwhelming, so this is a wonderful article for me, thank you. I suffer from extreme fatigue that ends up causing depression and anxiety and ADD type symptoms due to being too tired to think straight and then getting overwhelmed at not being productive and then getting frustrated with it all. Vicious cycle. Been battling it for years but don’t want to be on drugs. I went on a few days trial prescription of adderall just as a test of what a normal life without fatigue would feel like and it really did fix EVERYTHING, I felt great, but I don’t want to take anything addictive or anything that is not natural, so no drugs for me if I can avoid it. What natural nootropic would you recommend ? A stack maybe ? I really didn’t want to take any of the synthetic nootropics because I need something I can be on long term without cycling off so the more natural, the better. My job requires me to sit for hours a day so I need to take something daily. Any advise or input would be appreciated.

Marla, your story sounds like mine about 5 years ago. I have some suggestions. With extreme fatigue, anxiety, depression and ADD symptoms it sounds like you could be dealing with adrenal fatigue and/or thyroid issues. Please find a functional medicine doctor who deals with ‘natural’-type meds like natural desiccated thyroid. Get a full thyroid panel done and learn how to read the labs yourself. You can get a ton of information here: https://stopthethyroidmadness.com/.

Next, if you tried Adderall and it turned the lights on for you, please do not dismiss prescription meds out of hand. I prefer everything natural myself. But I must use Ritalin everyday to function at the level I do. And BTW, if you decide to revisit this please consider methylphenidate before something like Adderall or one of the newer meds. Ritalin has the longest, safest track record in ADD medicine.

Finally, please see the stack I describe on this page: https://nootropicsexpert.com/best-nootropics-for-adhd-add/. There is nothing in that stack that needs to be cycled. I use everything in that stack daily. The racetam-family of nootropics are by their very nature some of the safest supplements on the planet. Safer even than many “natural” plant-based supplements.

Thank you so much for your input. I will check out the links you suggested. I am not against prescription medications, they are unavoidable for some people. I just wanted that to be a last resort for me, due to long term side affects. I’m also open to racetam nootropics if need be, but in reading about them they almost seemed like they were prescription medications that just didn’t need a prescription for use. In fact in some places they do need a prescription. So that’s my only reason for shying away from those. In my research I am beginning to see that even natural adaptogens can have just as many side affects. It’s all rather confusing.

I like your suggestion about a natural doctor. My insurance does not cover them so I was hoping I could research and figure it out myself, but there is no one size fits all so I really need to get some tests run.

Marla, don’t discount the racetams so quickly. Dr. Giurgea who created the first racetam (Piracetam) made it very clear how they should work. And not cause any kind of side effects. My experience over the years with the racetams has found that to be true with the most well-known racetams. Esp. things like Aniracetam and Piracetam. The racetams often have a much better safety profile than many herbal-based nootropics. But you must follow dosage recommendations very carefully.

You make some good points. I am so glad racetams have helped you and so many others and I do not want to discount them, as they might be just what I need. I think for me taking anything on my own without advisement from a doctor is scary, and “natural ” just seemed less intimidating, since I am just now starting to get educated on nootropics and adaptogens. But I know you are right, many herbs have more side affects than anything else, so your point is well taken. I will keep an open mind. Thank you.